Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 20-31 July, No 25: Final plenary, part 1

After intense negotiations over the weekend that resulted in the final text for adoption (1 August), and further negotiations during the morning, everyone was back in the room for the final session, at the beginning of which Ambassador Kamau announced changes in paragraphs 34, 44, 62 whilst there were no changes to paragraphs 68 and 69.

Changes:

34. Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security; and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. The new Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions. Factors which give rise to violence, insecurity and injustice, such as inequality, corruption, poor governance and illicit financial and arms flows, are addressed in the Agenda. We must redouble our efforts to resolve or prevent conflict and to support post-conflict countries, including through ensuring that women have a role in peace-building and state-building. We reiterate our commitment to take further effective measures and actions, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of people living under [DELETED: colonial] and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as their environment.

44. We acknowledge the need for international financial institutions to [INSERTED: support, in line with their mandates, DELETE: continue to  respect] the policy space of each country, in particular developing countries. We recommit to broadening and strengthening the voice and participation of developing countries – in particular African countries, least developed countries, land-locked developing countries, small-island developing States and middle-income countries – in international economic decision-making, norm-setting and global economic governance [DELETE:, while respecting the mandates of respective organisations].

62. This Agenda, including the SDGs, can be met within the framework of a revitalised global partnership for sustainable development, supported by the concrete policies and actions outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. [ADDED: The Addis Ababa Action Agenda supports, complements and helps contextualize the 2030 Agenda's means of emendation targets.] These relate to domestic public resources, domestic and international private business and finance, international development cooperation, international trade as an engine for development, debt and debt sustainability, addressing systemic issues and science, technology, innovation and capacity-building, and data, monitoring and follow-up.

NO CHANGE:

68. International trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, and contributes to the promotion of sustainable development. We will continue to promote a universal, rules-based, open, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as meaningful trade liberalization. We call on all WTO members to redouble their efforts to promptly conclude the negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda. We attach great importance to providing trade-related capacity-building for developing countries, in particular African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing states and middle-income countries, including for the promotion of regional economic integration and interconnectivity.

69   We recognize the need to assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief, debt restructuring and sound debt management, as appropriate. Many countries remain vulnerable to debt crises and some are in the midst of crises, including a number of least developed countries, small-island developing States and some developed countries. [ADDED: We reiterate that debtors and creditors must work together to prevent and resolve unsustainable debt situations. Maintaining sustainable debt levels is the responsibility of the borrowing countries; however we acknowledge that lenders also have a responsibility to lend in a way that does not undermine a country’s debt sustainability.] We will support the maintenance of debt sustainability of those countries that have received debt relief and achieved sustainable debt levels.